An open letter to the leaders of the world’s governments SIGNED by organizations, companies, and individuals:

We encourage you to support the safety and security of users, companies, and governments by strengthening the integrity of communications and systems. In doing so, governments should reject laws, policies, or other mandates or practices, including secret agreements with companies, that limit access to or undermine encryption and other secure communications tools and technologies.

Governments should not ban or otherwise limit user access to encryption in any form or otherwise prohibit the implementation or use of encryption by grade or type;

Governments should not mandate the design or implementation of “backdoors” or vulnerabilities into tools, technologies, or services;

Governments should not require that tools, technologies, or services are designed or developed to allow for third-party access to unencrypted data or encryption keys;

Governments should not seek to weaken or undermine encryption standards or intentionally influence the establishment of encryption standards except to promote a higher level of information security. No government should mandate insecure encryption algorithms, standards, tools, or technologies; and

Governments should not, either by private or public agreement, compel or pressure an entity to engage in activity that is inconsistent with the above tenets.

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To the leaders of the world’s governments –

We urge you to protect the security of your citizens, your economy, and your government by supporting the development and use of secure communications tools and technologies, rejecting policies that would prevent or undermine the use of strong encryption, and urging other leaders to do the same.

Encryption tools, technologies, and services are essential to protect against harm and to shield our digital infrastructure and personal communications from unauthorized access. The ability to freely develop and use encryption provides the cornerstone for today’s global economy. Economic growth in the digital age is powered by the ability to trust and authenticate our interactions and communicate and conduct business securely, both within and across borders.

Some of the most noted technologists and experts on encryption recently explained (PDF) that laws or policies that undermine encryption would “force a U-turn from the best practices now being deployed to make the Internet more secure,” “would substantially increase system complexity” and raise associated costs, and “would create concentrated targets that could attract bad actors.” The absence of encryption facilitates easy access to sensitive personal data, including financial and identity information, by criminals and other malicious actors. Once obtained, sensitive data can be sold, publicly posted, or used to blackmail or embarrass an individual. Additionally, insufficiently encrypted devices or hardware are prime targets for criminals.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression has noted, “encryption and anonymity, and the security concepts behind them, provide the privacy and security necessary for the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in the digital age.” As we move toward connecting the next billion users, restrictions on encryption in any country will likely have global impact. Encryption and other anonymizing tools and technologies enable lawyers, journalists, whistleblowers, and organizers to communicate freely across borders and to work to better their communities. It also assures users of the integrity of their data and authenticates individuals to companies, governments, and one another.

We encourage you to support the safety and security of users by strengthening the integrity of communications and systems. All governments should reject laws, policies, or other mandates or practices, including secret agreements with companies, that limit access to or undermine encryption and other secure communications tools and technologies. Users should have the option to use – and companies the option to provide – the strongest encryption available, including end-to-end encryption, without fear that governments will compel access to the content, metadata, or encryption keys without due process and respect for human rights. Accordingly:

Governments should not ban or otherwise limit user access to encryption in any form or otherwise prohibit the implementation or use of encryption by grade or type;

Governments should not mandate the design or implementation of “backdoors” or vulnerabilities into tools, technologies, or services;

Governments should not require that tools, technologies, or services are designed or developed to allow for third-party access to unencrypted data or encryption keys;

Governments should not seek to weaken or undermine encryption standards or intentionally influence the establishment of encryption standards except to promote a higher level of information security. No government should mandate insecure encryption algorithms, standards, tools, or technologies; and

Governments should not, either by private or public agreement, compel or pressure an entity to engage in activity that is inconsistent with the above tenets.

Strong encryption and the secure tools and systems that rely on it are critical to improving cybersecurity, fostering the digital economy, and protecting users. Our continued ability to leverage the internet for global growth and prosperity and as a tool for organizers and activists requires the ability and the right to communicate privately and securely through trustworthy networks.

By signing, you agree that Access Now will deliver these petitions to selected world governments on your behalf. Your name and nationality may appear on this website. You will not be enrolled in any mailing list.

Organizations

Companies

Individuals

Organizations

18MillionRising.org

Access Now

ACI-Participa

Advocacy for Principled Action in Government

Alternative Informatics Association

Alternatives

Alternatives Canada

Alternatives International

American Civil Liberties Union

American Library Association

Amnesty International

ARTICLE 19

La Asociación Colombiana de Usuarios de Internet

Asociación por los Derechos Civiles

Asociatia pentru Tehnologie si Internet (ApTI)

Associated Whistleblowing Press

Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Association for Proper Internet Governance

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights

Australian Privacy Foundation

Benetech

Berlin Forum on Global Politics (BFoGP)

Bill of Rights Defense Committee

Bits of Freedom

Blueprint for Free Speech

Bolo Bhi

Brazilian Chapter of Internet Society (ISOC-BR)

Canadian Access and Privacy Association

the Centre for Communication Governance at National Law University Delhi

Center for Democracy and Technology

Center for Digital Democracy

Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights

the Center for Internet and Society (CIS)

Center for Media Data and Society at the School of Public Policy of Central European University

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